“And stop saying that and grinning at me. I mean it.”

“I know you do. But it’s hard not to smile. You’re worried about me, and that means that you like me. That makes me happy.”

She felt a melting within her. “Of course I like you. I’ve always liked you, Ben. Don’t you know that?”

He shook his head. “I thought it was because I helped you with Bonnie. It was okay that it was all about her, but it’s nice that you like me, too.”

She went back and gave him a quick hug. “Don’t you ever say that again. Bonnie was the beginning, but you’re very special to Joe and me on your own. Because you’re who you are.” She turned and strode toward the bedroom. “So you have to take care of yourself and don’t do anything foolish.”

“Some people think I am a fool, Eve,” he said quietly.

“Then they’re stupid. Are you different? Yes. But we’re all different, and we just have to accept each other. Finish that chocolate and dry your hair.”

“Yes, Eve.”

“Now you’re making fun of me.”

“I think I am.” He thought about it. “Do you mind?”

“No. Just don’t make a habit of it.” She slammed the door behind her.

Dammit, she didn’t want Ben to go out there.

But he had said that Bonnie had told him to come here. Surely she wouldn’t have sent him if she’d thought there was any danger. Or would she? Bonnie had shown that she wasn’t above weighing her choices as to whom she wanted to protect. She loved Eve as much as Eve loved her. Eve would always be first where Bonnie was concerned. From the moment she had given birth to Bonnie, Eve had realized her little girl was very special, and they would always have a bond that would last forever. But forever had lasted only seven short years when Bonnie had been kidnapped and died. Eve couldn’t bear the agony of living without her and had been spiraling downward to follow her through that final door when she had started to dream of Bonnie. It wasn’t until years later that she would admit to herself that she believed Bonnie was no dream but a spirit who had come to show her that forever was still possible if they were patient and didn’t break the rules. It had been difficult because Eve always had been hardheaded and practical, and ghosts were not acceptable in her vision of life … and death. But those visits from Bonnie were so real, so right, that she had gradually realized that Bonnie was alive for her no matter what anyone else thought.

And when she was searching for Bonnie’s body to bring her home, she had come across Ben, who was as special in his way as Bonnie. Somehow, it had hardly surprised her that he, too, dreamed about Bonnie. Nor that he loved her as much as Eve did.

No, that wasn’t true. No one could love her that much.

Good God, was she a little jealous that Bonnie had come to Ben and not to her?

She said the darkness around you was holding her back.

So Bonnie had sent Ben to try to keep Eve safe.

And now Eve had to find a way to keep Ben safe.

*   *   *

THE RAIN WAS LESSENING, Doane noticed. That was too bad. The rain was his friend right now.

“It will still be fine, Kevin.” He looked down at the skull in the chest beside him on the seat of the truck as he pulled out his earphone. “I’ll just have to make a few adjustments here. I kind of thought Venable might send that man who was watching us at the lake. But I wasn’t expecting Ben Hudson to show up. Fate seems to be putting obstacles in our path. But you always said the victory was sweeter if it wasn’t easy.” He opened his computer. “Everything has to be ready to go like clockwork when I put it in motion. Let’s check on Blick.”

Text or Skype?

No, he wanted to see Blick’s face, make certain that there was no hesitance or lies. He trusted the man as much as he trusted anyone. He had been Kevin’s friend and worshipped him. Besides, he liked money. Between the two, he had a chance that he wouldn’t betray him. Or that he wouldn’t move too soon and trigger a response that would make it difficult for Doane to initiate his plans for Eve Duncan. Blick had never had Kevin’s coolness and was prone to panic. He had to keep him calm and on track.

He pressed the button and waited for Blick to pick up the line on Summer Island.

“Is everything okay?” Blick’s face was tense as he picked up the line. “Have you done it?”

“Not yet. There are problems. I’ll work them out. MacGuire’s attention is still focused on the dog?”

“Yeah, the doctors seem to be busy. I don’t know what’s going on.”

“You don’t have to know. Just keep her there and away from here. That’s your job. You understand?”

“I heard you.”

“Good. Then do it.” He hung up.

CHAPTER

4

“HOW’S HE DOING?” CALEB ASKED, as Jane came out of the examination room.

“Good. Very good.” She smiled brilliantly. “Devon doesn’t think there’s any internal organ damage from the poison. That means that once we get the poison totally out of his system, he has a chance for total recovery.” She looked at the computer on his lap. “That’s my laptop. What are you doing with it?”

“Nothing criminal. That’s not saying I couldn’t have made you a cybervictim if I’d chosen. It was ridiculously easy to access anything I wanted to see.” His brows lifted. “And your password? Eve/Joe. It took me all of three minutes to decide what you’d use.”

“So? It’s not as if I really cared. Nothing is top secret on my computer. Technology is not my life.” She added, “Though you might have asked permission if you wanted to use it.”

“You weren’t around, and I have a tendency to be impatient. I didn’t go into your Facebook account or anything. I was just checking your e-mail to see if you got an answer from that Nedra woman at your luxury pup day-care center.”

“And did I?”

“Yes.” He turned the computer around. “Shocked disbelief. And then abject apologies. When they checked, they found their cameras caught this man with Toby.” He paused. “Syringe in hand.”

“What?” The next moment, she’d snatched the computer from him. One glance, and she could see it was true. It was taken in the outdoor play area, and the short, stocky man with curly, red hair had his back to the camera, and she couldn’t see his features. But she could see that he was standing over Toby and she could see the syringe he was slipping back into the pocket of his jacket. For an instant she could feel the rage run hot before she got it under control. “The son of a bitch. Who is he? Did Nedra know? Everyone has to check in at the front desk.”

“She said his name is Herbert Connors. He’d brought a boxer to the day-care center three times before that day. He said he was dropping the dog off for his next-door neighbor at his flat. She says he appeared to be a nice man and was very friendly with all the dogs. She can’t believe he would do something like this.”

“Well, he did.” Her hands tightened on the laptop. “And she’d better check out the other dogs he had contact with.”

“That was her first thought. She said she’d get on the phone immediately with all her clients and see if any other dogs are sick.” Caleb tilted his head. “But somehow I don’t think she’s going to find any. I think that Toby was the only target.”

Her gaze flew to his face. “And why do you think that?”

“She said Herbert Connors hadn’t been back since that day he’d evidently given Toby the poison. I think he’d gone the other three times to set it up. He was waiting for you to drop off Toby so that he could finish his job.”

“For God’s sake, you’re making it sound like some diabolic scheme instead of a vicious crazy preying on a helpless animal.”

“Haven’t you noticed?” He smiled faintly. “I tend to think on diabolic lines.”